Valve for dispensing a plurality of products packaged under pressure

ABSTRACT

Valve for dispensing at least one of a plurality of fluids and movable between a closed position, an intermediate position releasing only one of said fluids which serves to cleanse the valve, and an open position in which it releases only the other of said fluids. Alternatively, the valve may release both fluids when open.

United States Patent Inventor Bruno P. Morane Paris, France Appl. N0v 844,840 Filed July 25, 1969 Patented July 20, 197] Assignee LOreal Paris, France Priority July 3, [969 France 6,922,462

VALVE FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF PRODUCTS PACKAGED UNDER PRESSURE [501 Field of Search 222/136, 148, 402.18, 402.17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,465,918 9/1969 Webster 222/136 3,497,112 2/1970 Samuelson 222/148 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Holcombe, Wetherill and Brisebois ABSTRACT: Valve for dispensing at least one of a plurality of fluids and movable between a closed position, an intermediate 4claims4nmwing Figs position releasing only one of said fluids which serves to US. Cl 222/136, cleanse the valve, and an open position in which it releases ZZZ/402.17 only the other of said fluids. Alternatively, the valve may Int. Cl B6711 5/52 release both fluids when open.

I6 20 36a Q I /9 l 3 0am I l g t I I 4 3& l 34 7 6 g I l l e a x 4 l r l k 2 la 1h PATENTED JUL20 Ian SHEET 1 [IF 2 19 T TOR/V5 Y5 VALVE FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF PRODUCTS PACKAGED UNDER PRESSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an improvement on the valve for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of fluids which is described in my prior application, Ser. No. 839,842 filed July 8, 1969. That application describes a valve characterized by the fact that it comprises a cylindrical cup provided with radial notches at the top of its peripheral wall, one for each of the products which is to be dispensed. The notches are connected through suitable passageways to spigots at the bottom of the cup, which spigots are connected to the containers holding each of the products to be dispensed. This cup is also provided with a coaxial central chamber and encircles a sealing member which is axially slidable within said chamber and is biassed upwardly by a spring which rests on the bottom of said chamber. This sealing member is shaped like a cylindrical crown and is provided at its top with a circular seat. The valve also comprises a central cylindrical spout which is open at its top and closed at its bottom and carries at its midpoint a circular shoulder adapted to cooperate with the seat at the top of the sliding sealing member. The lower part of this spout is radially pierced by at least one hole and, it is pierced at a level immediately above the circular shoulder, by another hole. Finally, the valve comprises an annular sealing member encircling the spout and bearing on the top of the cup of the sliding,

sealing member, and of the annular shoulder on the spout.

When such a valve is used to dispense products which are capable of progressively stopping upthe passageways in the spout, it is particularly useful to be able to clean the inside of the valve, for example, each time the products have been dispensed. This cleaning operation may be easily carried out by means of a brief spurt of propellant gas, which takes place before or after each dispensing operation. Such valves may be' called self-cleaning valves." lt is the object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the valve described in the application of July 8, 1969 and which differs therefrom-in two particulars. In the first place, the spring which biases the sliding sealing member upward bears against a disc fixed to the lower part of the spout instead of against the sliding sealing;

member itself. This disc may be brought into contact with the sliding sealing member. Secondly, the passage inside the cyiindrical spout is open at its bottom and closed at the level of the cylindrical shoulder which projects radially outward from said spout. This shoulder is positioned inside the sliding sealing-1 member and biased upwardly against the annular sealing member by the said spring, and is adapted to cooperate with a portion of the sliding sealing member so as to cause movement thereof.

In an improved embodiment of the invention the cylindrical seat in the sliding joint is circular, as is the cylindrical shoulder carried by the spout of the valve, and the outer diameter onthe shoulder on the spout is slightly less than the inner diameter of the seat and the sliding sealing member. The surface of It is a further object of the present invention to provideas a new article of manufacture a pressurized dispensing container essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one valve of the above type.

When the valve according to the invention is in closed position, the hole in the upper part of the spout is positioned" between the upper and the lower surfaces of the annular sealing member, and the hole in the lower part of the spout is positioned inside the seat in the sliding sealing member. When the valve according to the invention is in its open position, the spout has been depressed into the inside of the cylindrical cup of the valve by the user. As the spout is depressed, the hole in the upper part of the spout enters the zone between the annular sealing member and the sliding sealing member. The

depression of the spout is resisted by the spring, which bears againsta disc at the lower end of the spout. When depression of the spout is first begun, the circular shoulder on the spout moves within the seat inside the sliding sealing member without coming into contact with any other part of said sealing member and the hole in the lower part of the spout remains inside the seatin the sliding sealing member. In this position, the propellant gascontained in the pressurized container which cooperates with the valve according to the invention may pass through the seat in the sliding joint so as to escape to the outside. When the spout is further depressed the hole in the lower part thereof passes beyond the seat andthe sliding sealing member. Thisstops the escape of propellant gas. Still further depression of the spout brings the circular shoulder thereon into contact=with a portion of the sliding sealing member so that subsequent depression of the spout carries with it the slid ing sealing member and opens the distribution ports of the passageways associated with the spigots of the valve.

It should be noted that, when the valve according to the invention i's-in its closed position, there is: practically no distribution chamber inwhich the products. to be simultaneously dispensed remain mixed together. This important characteristic is particularly valuable when the two products to be dispensed are capable of reacting chemically with each other. Such avalvemay be used to assure the simultaneous distribution: of several products which must be stored separately, each product: being then enclosed within a container connected to one ofthe spigotsat the bottom of the cylindrical cup of the valve. ln'order that the valve according to the invention may act as a self-cleaning valve, it is essential that the central chamber in the cylindrical cup of the valve be in communication' with a region containing a gas under pressure. This gas under pressure may be the pressurizing gas associated with at least: one of the products-to be distributed. It may also be a gas underpressurewhich' isi independent of the pressurizing gases associated with each of the products to be distributed. The valve'accordingt'o' the invention may of course function as a self-cleaning valve" when only a single product is to be dispenseda ln a preferredembodiment of the invention, the circular sealingimember is attached to the cup of the valve by a cap which forms'the top of the outer container or jacket on which saidvalve is mounted. The connecting spigots attached to the bottom of the' valve'cup, and the passageways which connect the radial-slots in the top of thecup are parallel to the axis of the cup; The-annularsealing member and the sliding member may be made'of anysuitable plastic material, whether natural or synthetic: The cup of the valve and the cylindrical spout may bemade ofinetal or of molded plastic material.

As-has been hereinb'efore indicated, the valve according to the invention has-aposition in which the inside of the jacket on which' the'valve is mounted is connected to the outside evenrthoughthecontainers holding the products to be simultaneously dispensed are not connected to permit distribution. Thisposition may -permit'the introduction of a propellant gas into the'outer container or jacket holding the inner containers. ln particulanwhen the inner containers are made of a flexible material they; made be connected to the valve according to the invention andthen located inside the outer container or jacket to which the valve'is attached. in that case, the last step of the manufacturing operation is the introduction of pressurizing gasintothecontainer.

It isimportantto note that, for a constant speed of depression of the-spourduring each dispensing operation, the quantity'of-propellant gas-which escapes'to the exterior is essentially a function; for'a given valve, of the distance between the hole in=thexlowerpart of the spout and the circular shoulder at the central. part of this spout. The greater this distance, the larger the quantity of propellant gas released during each dispensing operation; In other'words, the extent of the self-cleaning by the valvemaybe' regulated'by adjusting this distance.

In a first embodiment ofthe valve according to the invention', thelowerpart of the spout is provided with a groove on its outer lateral surface and the surface of the circular shoulder of saidspout which is opposite to the circular sealing member also comprises a groove which communicates with -the groove on the lower part of the spout. This creates a passageway through which the propellant gas inside the container to which the valve is attached may penetrate into the chamber within the sliding sealing member, even if the hole in the lower part of the spout is not insidethis chamber. lt follows that, in the open position of the valve, the propellant gas may penetrate into the chamber in the sliding joint and escape at the same time as the products to be distributed simultaneously. As a consequence the valve is capable of delivering additional gas, a characteristic which is very valuable, particularly when the products to be dispensed are highly viscous.

In a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the circular sealing member comprises in its central part a dished portion, the bottom of which is pierced by an opening through which the upper part of the valve spout passes in a fluidtight manner. This particular shape of the circular sealing ,member makes it possible for this sealing member to serve as a safety device. If excessive pressure is applied inside a dished member made of elastic material, the edges of the dished member tend to spread apart so as to permit the fluid under excessive pressure which provoked the deformation to escape to the outside. Since the surface of the circular sealing member which is opposite the sliding sealing member is in contact with the propellant gas under pressure inside the container associated with the valve, the circular sealing member may act as a safety device, avoiding any possible explosion as a result of excessive pressure within the container.

In order that the invention may be better understood, two embodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- spout 33 is pierced by two diametrically opposite holes 16, i and two diametrically opposed holes 35 are provided in its FIG. I shows a first embodiment of the valve according to the invention, in axial section, in its closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the valve of FIG. 1 in axial section in its selfcleaning position;

FIG. 3 shows the valve of FIG. 1, in axial section, in its open position; and

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the valveaccording to the invention, in axial section, and in its closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 indicates the valve cup. This is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a central chamber 2. Two diametrically opposed spigots 3 and 4 are attached to its bottom.

Two grooves 5 and 6 are provided at the top of the sidewall of the cup, and are substantially rectangular in section. These grooves 5 and 6 are in alignment with the spouts 3 and 4 respectively. Passageways 7 and 8 in the wall of the cup are in alignment with the spigots 3 and 4 respectively and connect these spigots to the slots 5 and 6. The top of the cup is provided with an external shoulder 9. The bottom of the cup is pierced by an axial hole la. I

A sliding sealing member 30 is positioned inside the-central chamber 2. This sealing member comprises a lateral cylindrical wall 300 and a bottom 30b. There is a central hole in the bottom of the sealing member which is encircled by a rim 31.

g The sliding sealing member 30 defines an inner cylindrical seat 32.

A spout 33 is mounted in the center of the slidingsealing member 30. The spout 33 is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a central passageway blocked at its midpoint at the level of the external annular shoulder 15. The outer diameter of the shoulder 15 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the seat 32. The inner diameter of the rim 31 is substantially equal to the external diameter of the lower part of the spout 33. At the bottom of spout 33 is a disc 34, the outer diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the cylindrical surface 300 of the sliding sealing member. A- spring 12 is positioned between the disc 34 and the bottom of the central chamber 2,. At a point above the circular shoulder 15 the lower part between the disc 34 and the circular shoulder 15.

A circular sealing member 36 is positioned at the top of the valve. This sealing member has an external diameter equal to the external diameterof the shoulder 9 and an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the upper part of spout 33. In its closed position, shown in FIG. 1, this sealing member rests on the upper surfaces of the cup 1, of the sliding sealing member 30, and the circular shoulder 15. When the circular sealing member 36 is in position on the cup 1, the slots 5 and 6 in the top of the wall of this cup become holes. The circular sealing member 36 is fastened to the top of the cup 1 by a metallic cap 19 which crimps the circular sealing member 36 to the shoulder 9 of the cup 1. It is obvious that the cap 19 is provided with a central opening 20 within which the spout 33 is free to slide.

The cap 19 is adapted to be crimped to the top of an outer container or jacket, which outer container may hold the flexible containers inside which the products to be dispensed are stored, as well as the pressurizing fluid for placing the nected to the dispensing valve. The Freon is then introduced into the outer container by any suitable means, and in particular either by a special valve, or directly through the valve according to the invention, placed in the position shown in FIG. 2. ln this latter case, the Freon is introduced into the axial passageway in the spout 33, and passes through the hole 16,

which is then positioned between the circular sealing member 36 and the sliding sealing member 30, through the seat 32 in the central part of the sliding sealing member 30 to the outside of the shoulder 15, and then penetrates through the hole 35 in the lower part of the spout 33, after which it passes through the central chamber 2 and the hole la to fill the outer container. When the desired quantity of Freon has been introduced into the outer container, the connection between the container for the Freon and the spout 33 is broken, and the spout is forced upward by the spring 12 so as to restore the valve to its closed position, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the closed position shown in FIG. 1 the sliding sealing member 30 blocks the slots 5 and 6 which prevents the dispensing of the products which are to be simultaneously distributed. The pressurizing gas, which is inside the outer container, exerts pressure against the inside of the seat 32, since this seat is in communication with the inside of the container through the hole 30, the central opening 2, and the hole 10. The central part of the circular sealing member 36 is formed into a dome 36a inside the hole 20 in the cap 19. The central part of the dome 36a is traversed by the upper part of the spout 33. In the closed position shown on FlG. 1, when the disc 34 bears against the sliding sealing member 30, which itself bears against the circular sealing member 36, the opening 16 is at a level such that it is between the two surfaces of the bottom of the dome 36a. The dome 36a forms a seal about the upper part of the spout 33, so that the gas which is contained in the seat 32 cannot escape to the outside. If excessive pressure occurs inside the outer container, this excessive pressure acts on the inside of the dome 36a, and because of the elasticity of the material of which it is made, deforms said dome so as to permit the escape of gas along the upper part of the spout 33.

. The presence of the dome 36a in the central part of the circular sealing member 36 thus makes it possible for the valve according to the invention to serve as a safety valve preventing excessive pressure inside the outer container.

When the user desires to open the valve according to the invention, he presses axially downward on the spout 33. 'The spring 12 is then compressed and permits the spout 33 to be forced downwardly into the cup 1 of the valve. During the first part of its downward movement, as shown in FIG. 2, the hole 16 has been brought into communication with the seat 32, but the hole 35 is still inside the seat 32. It follows that there is a connection between the inside of the outer container and its outside, which permits pressurizing gas to flow through the hole 35, the seat 32, over the outside of shoulder and through the hole 16. This flow of gas under pressure cleans the seat 32 which may contain particles of the product to be dispensed which were left from a previous operation of the valve. The valve according to the invention is thus of the selfcleaning type.

When the user continues to press down on the spout 33, the spring 12 is more tightly compressed and the circular shoulder 15 comes into alignment with the rim 31 of the sliding sealing member 30. From this time on the pressurizing gas inside the outer container can no longer pass out of the container, since the hole 35 is inside the rim 31. When the spout 33 is further depressed, the sliding sealing member 30 is compelled to move therewith. This opens the distribution ports 5 and 6 and permits the simultaneous dispensing of the products to be distributed through the hole 16 and the central passageway in the upper part of the spout 33.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the lower part of the spout 33 is provided with a longitudinal peripheral groove 37. The surface of the circular shoulder 15 which comes into contact with the rim 3] is provided with a radial groove 38 which communicates with groove 37.

The valve according to the invention is shown in closed position in FIG. 4. The position of its various components is analogous of those of the corresponding components of the valve in FIG. 2. Movement to its intermediate position results in self-cleaning of the seat 32 in a manner identical to that which has been described in connection with the valve of FIG. 1, this intermediate position being shown, for the first embodiment, on FIG. 2. When the valve is in its open position, all the components are in the position shown, for the first embodiment, in FIG. 3. However, in the case of the present embodiment the grooves 37 and 38 permit the passage of the pressurizing gas from the inside of the outer container to the outside thereof when the valve is in its open position. It follows that this valve provides additional gas during dispensing. The current of pressurizing gas which then passes through the seat 32 greatly facilitates the simultaneous flow of the two products which are supplied through the slots 5 and 6 and which must be delivered through the hole 16 and the central passageway in the spout 33.

It will of course be appreciated that the embodiments which have been described have been given purely by way of example, and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is: 1. Valve for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of fluids maintained under pressure, said valve comprising in combination:

a cup defining a central chamber and adapted to be secured beneath the cap of an outer container, said chamber being formed with at least one upper port for communication with a first container and a lower port for communication with a second container;

stationary sealing means closing the top of said chamber;

a spout extending through said sealing means into said chamber and slidable therein between an upper closed" position, an intermediate cleaning position and a lower "open" position, said spout having a central longitudinal channel blocked near its midpoint, at least one upper port above the point at which it is blocked and a lower port below that point,

resilient means biasing said spout toward its closed position; a slidable sealing member encirclmlg said spout within said chamber and slidable relative to said cup between an upper position closing the upper port in said cup and a lower position clear of the upper port in said cup, and abutment means on said spout positioned to hold said slidable sealing means in its upper position when said spout is in its closed position and move said slidable sealing means into its lower position when said spout is moved to its open position,

said spout being movable in said slidable sealing member so that the lower port in said spout is clear of said slidable sealing member when said spout is in its intermediate cleaning position, but blocked by said sealing member when said spout is in its open position, thereby providing an open passage leading from the lower port in said cup through both ports in said spout to the outer end of said spout when said spout is in its cleaning position, and an open passageway leading from the peripheral port in said cup through the upper port in said spout when said valve is in its open position.

2. In combination, a valve as claimed in claim 1, an outer jacket closed by said valve, said outer jacket being in commu nication with the lower port in said cup, and holding a pressurizing fluid, and an inner container holding a fluid to be dispensed and connected to each upper port in said cup.

3. A valve as claimed in claim I in which an open passage maintains constant communication between those portions of said chamber on opposite sides of said sliding sealing member, so that fluid from the lower port in said cup is dispensed whenever said spout is in its open position.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said stationary sealing means is a resilient disc having a domed central portion encircling said spout, whereby excessive pressure beneath said sealing member will force the walls of said dome away from said spout to provide a channel therebetween for the relief of said pressure. 

1. Valve for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of fluids maintained under pressure, said valve comprising in combination: a cup defining a central chamber and adapted to be secured beneath the cap of an outer container, said chamber being formed with at least one upper port for communication with a first container and a lower port for communication with a second container; stationary sealing means closing the top of said chamber; a spout extending through said sealing means into said chamber and slidable therein between an upper ''''closed'''' position, an intermediate ''''cleaning'''' position and a lower ''''open'''' position, said spout having a central longitudinal channel blocked near its midpoint, at least one upper port above the point at which it is blocked and a lower port below that point, resilient means biasing said spout toward its closed position; a slidable sealing member encircling said spout within said chamber and slidable relative to said cup between an upper position closing the upper port in said cup and a lower position clear of the upper port in said cup, and abutment means on said spout positioned to hold said slidable sealing means in its upper position when said spout is in its closed position and move said slidable sealing means into its lower position when said spout is moved to its open position, said spout being movable in said slidable sealing member so that the lower port in said spout is clear of said slidable sealing member when said spout is in its intermediate cleaning position, but blocked by said sealing member when said spout is in its open position, thereby providing an open passage leading from the lower port in said cup through both ports in said spout to the outer end of said spout when said spout is in its cleaning position, and an open passageway leading from the peripheral port in said cup through the upper port in said spout when said valve is in its open position.
 2. In combination, a valve as claimed in claim 1, an outer jacket closed by said valve, said outer jacket being in communication with the lower port in said cup, and holding a pressurizing fluid, and an inner container holding a fluid to be dispensed and connected to each upper port in said cup.
 3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which an open passage maintains constant communication between those portions of said chamber on opposite sides of said sliding sealing member, so that fluid from the lower port in said cup is dispensed whenever said spout is in its open position.
 4. A valve as claimed in claim 1 in which said stationary sealing means is a resilient disc having a domed central portion encircling said spout, whereby excessive pressure beneath said sealing member will force the walls of said dome away from said spout to prOvide a channel therebetween for the relief of said pressure. 